Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON651
2009-09-24 11:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
ARAKANESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING FORMER
how-toVZCZCXRO3360 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0651 2671159 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241159Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9490 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2289 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5750 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9354 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6939 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2340 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2723 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000651
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: ARAKANESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING FORMER
AMERICAN CENTER STUDENT, ARRESTED
REF: 2008 RANGOON 714
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Six Arakanese Students Arrested
-------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000651
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: ARAKANESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING FORMER
AMERICAN CENTER STUDENT, ARRESTED
REF: 2008 RANGOON 714
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Six Arakanese Students Arrested
--------------
1. (C) On September 23, Embassy Rangoon sources confirmed a media
report that Special Branch police arrested six politically active
Arakanese university students on September 1. According to a September
9 Narinjara (exile-based) online news article, authorities arrested the
students -- Tun Lin, Zaw Tun Oo, Kyaw Zaw Oo, Kyaw Win, Khin Maung Htay
and Kyaw San Hlaing -- from Sittwe, the Rakhine (Arakan) State capital,
on September 1 and took them to an undisclosed location for
interrogation. They have not been heard from since. Embassy contacts
told Poloff that the number of Arakanese individuals arrested may
actually be as high as 20.
2. (C) A September 24 New Light of Myanmar article reports authorities
arrested and seized explosives from three others -- Ye Htet Soe
(September 4),Tun Lin Kyaw (September 5; unclear if same as Tun Lin
noted above),and Naing Soe (September 12). It appears the authorities
may have suspected the students arrested of conspiring to plan
activities that would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of
Saradaw Ottama, a prominent Arakanese monk who advocated for Burma's
independence from British rule.
Former American Center Student Arrested
--------------
3. (C) Separately, contacts told us Special Branch police recently
arrested Khaing Myat Moe, also from Rakhine State, who was formerly
enrolled via the Embassy's American Center in Indiana University's (IU)
distance learning program for political activists. The reason for his
arrest is unclear. One contact suggested Khaing Myat Moe was picked up
for his human rights work when authorities came to arrest his roommate,
the primary target; another said he was arrested because he was in
possession of explosive-related materials and is thus being held on
explosives charges. (Note: Authorities routinely detain political
activists on such charges, which reportedly are unsubstantiated. End
note.) According to one contact, who spoke to Khaing Myat Moe's wife,
Special Branch police seized Khaing Myat Moe's IU books and other
related material.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) It is possible there is a connection between the arrests of the
six Arakanese students and Khaing Myat Moe, though we cannot confirm
such a link. All are Arakanese and all are activists. Books and other
materials reportedly seized in Khaing Myat Moe's arrest could link him
to the American Center, and it is possible the regime may eventually
allege connections between the American Center and Arakanese political
dissidents. Authorities have long been suspicious of American Center
programs and activities and have publicly alleged some of those
associated with the Center are involved in "subversive acts."
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: ARAKANESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING FORMER
AMERICAN CENTER STUDENT, ARRESTED
REF: 2008 RANGOON 714
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Six Arakanese Students Arrested
--------------
1. (C) On September 23, Embassy Rangoon sources confirmed a media
report that Special Branch police arrested six politically active
Arakanese university students on September 1. According to a September
9 Narinjara (exile-based) online news article, authorities arrested the
students -- Tun Lin, Zaw Tun Oo, Kyaw Zaw Oo, Kyaw Win, Khin Maung Htay
and Kyaw San Hlaing -- from Sittwe, the Rakhine (Arakan) State capital,
on September 1 and took them to an undisclosed location for
interrogation. They have not been heard from since. Embassy contacts
told Poloff that the number of Arakanese individuals arrested may
actually be as high as 20.
2. (C) A September 24 New Light of Myanmar article reports authorities
arrested and seized explosives from three others -- Ye Htet Soe
(September 4),Tun Lin Kyaw (September 5; unclear if same as Tun Lin
noted above),and Naing Soe (September 12). It appears the authorities
may have suspected the students arrested of conspiring to plan
activities that would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of
Saradaw Ottama, a prominent Arakanese monk who advocated for Burma's
independence from British rule.
Former American Center Student Arrested
--------------
3. (C) Separately, contacts told us Special Branch police recently
arrested Khaing Myat Moe, also from Rakhine State, who was formerly
enrolled via the Embassy's American Center in Indiana University's (IU)
distance learning program for political activists. The reason for his
arrest is unclear. One contact suggested Khaing Myat Moe was picked up
for his human rights work when authorities came to arrest his roommate,
the primary target; another said he was arrested because he was in
possession of explosive-related materials and is thus being held on
explosives charges. (Note: Authorities routinely detain political
activists on such charges, which reportedly are unsubstantiated. End
note.) According to one contact, who spoke to Khaing Myat Moe's wife,
Special Branch police seized Khaing Myat Moe's IU books and other
related material.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) It is possible there is a connection between the arrests of the
six Arakanese students and Khaing Myat Moe, though we cannot confirm
such a link. All are Arakanese and all are activists. Books and other
materials reportedly seized in Khaing Myat Moe's arrest could link him
to the American Center, and it is possible the regime may eventually
allege connections between the American Center and Arakanese political
dissidents. Authorities have long been suspicious of American Center
programs and activities and have publicly alleged some of those
associated with the Center are involved in "subversive acts."
DINGER